In the need for some uplifting news? Well get ready for this heart-warming tale of pensioner Joe Bartley from Devon.

‘When you’re working for yourself.. you feel more individual and you’re meeting people, making friends'

Ever since his wife, Cassandra, passed away two years ago, Joe has been living on his own and feeling very lonely. The 89-year-old war veteran has no children, little remaining family and has lost contact with his friends.

He told The Guardian: 'I miss my wife dreadfully, and when you live on your own there is no one to speak to.'

In an effort to help cure his lonliness, Joe decided to look for a part-time job. But getting a job isn't easy, particulary when you're almost 90 years old. So Joe placed an advert in his local newspaper, the Herald Express, hoping that finding work would help him meet people and give him something to do.

‘When you’re working for yourself.. you feel more individual and you’re meeting people, making friends,’ Joe said.

The advert read: 'WORK WANTED. Senior citizen 89 seeks employment in Paignton area. 20hrs+ per week. Still able to clean, light gardening, DIY and anything. I have references. Old soldier, airborne forces. Save me from dying of boredom!.'

89-year-old Joe Bartley has placed an advert in a newspaper seeking a new job to stop him “dying of boredom”. Army...

Although nobody responded to his ad inititally, Joe didn't just give up! Instead, he simply asked the paper to run the ad again.

And it's a good thing that he did because once the advert was picked up by Age UK and posted on social media, hundreds of people praised Joe for his attitude and he was even contacted by an estranged friend who lived nearby.

Even better news? Joe is now officially employed, too! He has started a job at Cantina Bar and Kitchen near his house in Paignton, where the owner says 'we're really happy to have him.'